Capstone Project: Assessing a Patient, Family, or Population Health Problem
Introduction
In this 5–7 page written assessment, you will define the patient, family, or population health problem that will be the focus of your capstone project. You will assess this problem from multiple perspectives, including leadership, collaboration, communication, change management, and policy. This assessment lays the foundation for your capstone experience, guiding your practicum hours and informing your approach.
Plan to spend approximately 2 direct practicum hours working with a patient, family, or group to explore the problem in-depth. You may also consult subject matter and industry experts, such as directors of quality or patient safety, nurse managers, physicians, or epidemiologists, to gain further insight.
This assessment will enable you to:
- Develop a problem statement relevant to your nursing practice.
- Begin building a body of evidence to inform your practicum.
- Analyze the influence of leadership, collaboration, communication, change management, and policy on the chosen health problem.
Step 1: Selecting a Health Problem
Before completing the assessment, select one of the following as the focus of your capstone project:
Patient Health Problems
- Obesity: A medical condition characterized by excessive body fat, increasing risks for heart disease, diabetes, and cancer. Management strategies include diet, exercise, medication, and sometimes surgery.
- Cancer: A disease involving the uncontrolled growth of abnormal cells. Different types include breast, lung, and colon cancer, with treatments varying by stage and type, such as chemotherapy, surgery, and radiation.
Family Health Problems
- Alcoholism: A chronic condition marked by compulsive alcohol consumption, affecting family dynamics through financial strain, neglect, and broken relationships.
- Tobacco Addiction: A dependence on nicotine that poses health risks and exposes family members to secondhand smoke.
Population Health Problems
- Diabetes: A chronic disorder where the body fails to regulate blood sugar, leading to severe complications. Diabetes is linked to lifestyle, genetics, and healthcare access.
- Congestive Heart Failure: A condition where the heart cannot efficiently pump blood, causing fatigue and shortness of breath. It is a major public health concern due to high hospitalization rates.
Each of these health problems presents significant challenges, requiring preventive measures, early detection, treatment, education, community engagement, and policy changes to improve outcomes.
Step 2: Preparing for the Assessment
To ensure a comprehensive approach, complete the following before writing your assessment:
- Identify the Patient, Family, or Group
- Choose a patient, family, or group you will work with. This can be a friend, family member, or a specific population within your practice setting.
- You will engage with this patient, family, or group throughout your capstone project.
- Survey Scholarly and Professional Literature
- Begin researching peer-reviewed literature and professional sources to establish an evidence base for your assessment.
- Use this research to inform your evaluation and meet scholarly expectations.
- Plan Your Practicum Engagement
- Expect to spend at least 2 hours engaging with the selected patient, family, or group.
- Assess the health problem from leadership, collaboration, communication, change management, and policy perspectives.
- If needed, consult subject matter experts to enhance your understanding.
Step 3: Conducting the Practicum Assessment
During your practicum, focus on the following aspects:
- Defining the Problem
- Identify the patient, family, or group you intend to work with.
- Explain your rationale for selecting this specific patient, family, or population.
- Provide relevant data, statistics, or contextual evidence demonstrating the problem’s significance.
- Assessing Leadership, Collaboration, and Communication
- How will you present your ideas to the patient, family, or group?
- What strategies will you use to communicate the significance of the problem?
- Which leadership, collaboration, and communication skills will be necessary for success?
- Identifying Barriers and Change Management Strategies
- What potential barriers might arise when presenting this problem?
- How will you apply change management strategies to overcome these barriers?
- Consider creating a sense of urgency using data, policy requirements, or evidence-based research.
Step 4: Writing the Assessment
Your assessment should follow APA formatting and include the following sections:
1. Introduction
- Briefly introduce the health problem you will address.
- State its relevance to your nursing practice and why you chose this focus.
2. Problem Definition and Context
- Provide a summary of the problem and describe its significance.
- Explain the impact on the patient, family, or population and support with relevant data.
- Describe how this issue affects nursing practice and healthcare outcomes.
3. Evidence-Based Analysis
- Analyze peer-reviewed literature and professional sources that:
- Describe nursing actions related to this problem.
- Identify barriers to implementing evidence-based practices in addressing this problem.
- Examine research on the effectiveness of policies or standards in improving outcomes.
- Discuss the role of nurses in policymaking for improving care and preventing readmissions.
4. Leadership, Collaboration, and Change Management
- Discuss leadership strategies that could enhance patient-centered care and improve outcomes.
- Explore communication and collaboration techniques that will be required.
- Identify change management strategies necessary to address the problem.
5. Policy and Standards Influence
- Explain how state board nursing practice standards or governmental policies could affect this health issue.
- Discuss relevant research on how policies and standards influence patient, family, or population outcomes.
- Describe how local, state, and federal policies impact nursing scope of practice regarding this problem.
6. Practicum Documentation
- Log your practicum hours and interactions in the Capella Academic Portal Volunteer Experience Form.
7. Conclusion
- Summarize your key findings.
- Reaffirm the significance of addressing the health problem within nursing practice.
Step 5: Formatting and Submission
- Format: Follow APA style
- Length: 5–7 pages (excluding title and reference pages).
- Headings: Use appropriate section headings for clarity.
- Supporting Evidence:
- Cite at least five scholarly or professional sources (published within the last five years).
- Ensure in-text citations and references follow APA format.
- Proofreading:
- Review your paper for errors before submission.
- Ensure logical flow and smooth transitions between ideas.
Assessment Criteria
Your assessment will be evaluated based on the following: ✔ Definition of the Health Problem (Relevance to practice, context, data, and significance) ✔ Evidence-Based Analysis (Literature review, barriers, research on effectiveness) ✔ Leadership, Collaboration, and Change Management (Strategies and research) ✔ Policy and Standards (Impact on nursing, policy effectiveness, legislative effects) ✔ Practicum Documentation (Time spent, engagement with individuals or groups) ✔ Logical Organization (Clear structure, smooth transitions) ✔ APA Formatting (Proper citations, reference page, professional writing)